Folding stocking stretcher



Aug. 114, 1923.

H. A. BERENZDSEN FOLDING STOCKING STRETCHER Filed April 25, 1922 ATTOR/VEYS Patented Aug. 14, 1923..

' LdhhiitS HENRY A. BEBENDSEN, OF BANGOR, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING STOCKING STRETCH ER.

Application filed April 25, 1922. Serial No. 556,375.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. BERENDSEN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Bangor, in the county of Northampton and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Folding StockingStretcher, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

. This invention relates to stocking stretchers and particularly to animproved folding stretcher which when unfolded presents a proper form onwhich a stocking may be positioned for stretching and drying and whennot in use may be folded to a compact body and easily stored away.

The object of the invention is to provide a strong, simple constructionwhich may be quicklyfolded without injury at any time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stretcher for stockingswhich may be folded and unfolded at any time and which may be adjustedto accommodate different size stockings." 1

In the accompanying drawing Figure l'is a plan view of a stretcherdisclosing one embodiment of the invention. 1

Figure 2 is an edge view of the structure shown in Figure 1, the toemember being removed.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view Show ing one of the sliding clamps andjoints forming-certain features of the invention.

Figure 4 is a'sectional View through Figure 3 on line 4-4. 4

Figure 5 is a sectional view through Figure 1 on 1ine5-5.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a topsection, 2 a central section and 3 a foot section forming the completestretcher when used for a given size stocking. When it is desired to usethe device for larger stockings than a certain size, an adjustable toemember 4 is provided said adjustable member being preferably formed fromsheet metal with the ends bent over for forming gripping members 5 and 6which grip the upper and lower bars of the section 3. The toe section 4is provided with an desired number of opemngs 7 to lighten t e structurewithout interfering with its proper operation.

As shown in Figure 1, the toe section 4 I causes the stretcher toaccommodate a stocking one size larger than it would accommodate withoutthis toe section. If a sec ond size larger was to be used on the stretcher, the toe section 4 would. be moved out a proper distance and in thatway a proper foot member would be provided for the foot of the stocking.

If it should be desired to use the device without the toe section 4,said section may be readily slid OK the end by a pull and then the footsection 3 would be ready to receive 7 the smaller size stocking of whichthe stretcher is ready to accommodate.- It will be noted that thesections 1, 2 and 3 are made from wire or round bars and said sectionsare connected together in such a manner that section 3 may be folded toa position on top or partially within section 2 and then section 1 maybe folded over or on top of these two sections. The articulated end ofsection 3 is provided withone complete turn or loop 8 which merges intoan extension 9 adapted to receive one jaw of the clam 10, the oppositejaw of said clamp being s idingly mounted on the front rod 11 of section2. The clamp 10 as shown in Figures 3 and 4 is provided with jaws 12 and13 which are substantially tubular though positioned to resiliently gripsection 11 and also the extension 9 when .in operative position.

The opposite side of the articulated end merely bent at 14 and extendsto a central line of the section where it is formed with a bent. up endportion 15 preferably touching the bent up end section 16 of the portionor bent pintle member 17 which portion or pintle member is an extensionfrom the front rod '11, said front rod being bent at 18 and extendingthrough loop 8. The rear rod 19 of-section 2 is provided with a loop 20similar to loop 8, said loop 20 merging into an extension 21 forengaging one of the jaws of the sliding clamp 22 which clamp isidentical'with clamp 10 but slides back and forth on the rod section 23of the foot section 3." When these clamps 10 and 22 are in position asshown in Figure 1, the sections 2 and 3 are held rigidly in alignment. 1

The upper end of rod 11 is bent at-='24 for forming the inwardlyextending portion or bent pintle member 25 merging in the projection 26preferably engaging the projection 27 of the portion or bent pintlemember 28, said portion or bent pintle member 28 bein part of the rearrod 29, said rear rod bemg bent at 30 for forming the portion 28. Thefront rod 31 of section 1 is provided with a loop 32 similar to loop 8,said loop merging into a projection 33 for engaging one of the jaws ofthe clamp 10 which. clamp is identical with clamp 10. The rear bar orrod 19 of section 2 is provided with a turn or loop 34 similar to theturn or loop 8, said loop merging into an extension 35 for receiving onejaw of the clamp 22' which clamp is identical with clamp 10.

It will be noted that all of the clamps are identical for holding therespective sections rigidly in alignment when the-device is to be used.When it is desired to fold the device and store the same out of the way,as for instance, in a satchel, clamps l0 and 10' are moved towards eachother until they release the extensions 9 and 33 while clamps 22 and 22'are forced away from each other until they slide oif the extensions 21and 35. The sections may then be folded and the stretcher disposed of.This folding of the stretcher is very desirable where a lady istraveling from place to place as it may be stored away in one of hergrips without trouble.

What I claim is 1. A folding stocking stretcher, comprising a footsection, a plurality of leg sections, said sections being hingedlyconnected together, and means for clamping said sections rigidly inalignment.

2. A folding stocking stretcher, comprising a plurality of sections,each section having a bent pintle member and a loop, the pintle memberof one section extending through the loop of the other section wherebysaid sections are pivotally connected together, and means arrangedadjacent each pivotal connection movable into a position for holding thesections rigidly in alignment when the stretcher is to be used.

3. A. folding stockin stretcher, comprising a metallic wire bo y formedinto three sections, each of said sections being formed with hingeconnecting members interacting with the next adjacent sections wherebysaid sections may be arranged in alignment or folded, each of saidsections having projections at the interacting parts, and a slidingclamp for each projection, said sliding clamps being mounted on therespective sections and adapted to slide over the projections of thenext adjacent sectionsfor holding the sections rigidly in alignment.

4. In a stocking stretcher, a body merging into a foot formed with topand bottom bars, and a removable toe section formed with turned overedges acting as resilient clamping members engaging said top and bottombars, said toe section being slidable along said bars for varying theeffective length of the foot of the stretcher.

HENRY A. BERENDSEN.

